[jordanb]

Earhart seems to be a story of someone pushed beyond their capabilities by a runaway media narrative.

She was a good stick and rudder pilot in an era where most of them were male military veterans. This made her famous but her fame coincided with an era in which aviation headlines were being made by breaking long distance records. She couldn't remain in the limelight just doing loops and barrel rolls.

But long distance navigation required skill with technology she didn't have much familarity like radios and sextants. No doubt she had pressure to run up those firsts before some other female pilot did so she had no time to go back to school. Then you have the whole organization built around her and their expectations.

Her story isn't that much different than Donald Crowhurst.